A bumper year for digging up the past

A set of chimes is among the archaeological finds at the burial site of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) and his wife in Jiangsu province.

The earliest find among the six is the ancient city of Zhangye, where archaeologists discovered remains of copper smelting dating back to about 4,100 years ago. More than 2,000 pieces of pottery and stoneware have been found on the site.

What lies beneath

Museum preserves hutong history

The discovery is significant for the study of the early stage of metallurgy technology in China. The huge amount of carbonized wheat and adobe architecture unearthed proves that the Hexi Corridor, an important trade and military route linking China and Central Asia, had exchanges with the West as early as 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists say it also provides new evidence for the time and route of how wheat and adobe architecture were introduced to China.

The cemetery of China's first emperor Qinshihuang also revealed lost moments in history. Skeletons of under-age females were found in the mausoleum, indicating the fate of Qinshihuang's concubines after his death. The terracotta warriors of four high-ranking officials were also discovered.

Other discoveries are the Yejiashan Cemetery of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) in Suizhou, Laoguanshan Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) tombs in Sichuan and Wei Bridge in Xi'an.